Mississippi Cruise - Vicksburg #6

 

 

More on our Mississippi  River Cruise on the #AmericanQueen .

From Natchez, we steamed on to Vicksburg, a city in western Mississippi. The place was the site of a key Civil War battle.  Vicksburg is situated on an elevated land above the Mississippi. Because it was strategically important during the Civil War, it was attacked by the Union Army. After a 47-day punishing seige (May 18-July 4, 1863) where residents had to resort to eating horses, Vicksburg surrendered.  

We visited the Vicksburg National Cemetery, which commemorates the battle of Vicksburg. The Union had 75,000 soldiers in the battle; while the Confederates had 34,000.  The estimated casualties were 37,273 (4,910 Union and 32,363 Confederates). 

We have visited other battle sites such as Gettysburg and Shiloh, and thinking of those who died always breaks my heart.

I'm sharing some pictures taken at the National Cemetery.  The exhibit included the USS Cairo, an iron-clad war ship that was raised from the river. 

Read also:

Mississippi River Cruise on the American Queen - 1

Mississippi River Cruise - Nottaway - 2

Mississippi River Cruise - New Orleans 3

Mississippi River Cruise - Pointe Coupee 4

Mississippi River Cruise - Natchez 5

Mississippi River Cruise - Vicksburg 6

Tags: #mississippicruise #mississippiriver #cruising #Americanqueen #travel #rivercruise #civilwar